Syria gears up for Friday protests

Amateur video posted on the internet shows masses gathering in Syria.
These crowds are preparing for protests after Friday prayers -- the only chance for Syrians to gather legally.
Long lines of drivers block a highway -- and children take part in a candlelit march.
Security forces have moved into central Syria, with tanks taking up positions around urban centers, and are said to be withdrawing from Deraa.
This video shows tanks and trucks pulling out of the embattled southern city -- widely viewed as the heart of the growing insurrection against President Bashar al-Assad's rule.
Residents report the city's old quarters sustained heavy shelling and machine gun fire last Saturday.
And human rights campaigners say security forces killed at least 62 civilians during protests last Friday.
The United States, which had joined a European drive to improve ties with Assad, called recent attacks 'barbaric'.
Travis Brecher, Reuters

SPONSOREDSTORIES

Reuters is the news and media division of Thomson Reuters. Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms.

*All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays.